Procurement Manager Full Time NEW

As a Procurement Manager at the Planning Inspectorate, you will play a key role in securing the goods and services that support meaningful public outcomes. Whether you join us as a Procurement Manager (HEO) or Senior Procurement Manager (SEO), you will help deliver fair, transparent and value‑for‑money procurement activity that underpins our mission to maintain an effective, open and trusted planning system for England.

In the SEO role, you will provide strategic commercial leadership—managing complex procurements, shaping commercial strategy, building strong supplier relationships and delivering positive commercial results across allocated business areas.

In the HEO role, you will support day‑to‑day procurement delivery—working collaboratively with colleagues to shape requirements, engage with the marketplace, manage contract activity and provide clear and accessible procurement guidance.

Whichever role you take on, you will work with stakeholders across the organisation, contribute to building commercial capability and be part of a supportive and inclusive Commercial Team. Together, our work helps shape the places where people live, work and invest.

The Planning Inspectorate has a long and proud history in ensuring a fair planning system for England. The work we do has a significant impact on people’s lives, the communities where they live and the economy.

We want our colleagues to be able to work more flexibly and more collaboratively, exploring new and innovative ways to improve the way we provide services.

For further information on the Planning Inspectorate, please visit our careers page at Civil Service Careers

Job Description

In these roles, you will:

• For the SEO Procurement Manager: Lead commercial activity for allocated business areas, providing strategic commercial advice, shaping procurement strategies and overseeing complex procurements and contract extensions.
• For the HEO Procurement Manager: Lead the design and delivery of procurement projects, contract changes and related activity to ensure colleagues have the goods and services they need.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with stakeholders, suppliers and colleagues across the organisation, promoting excellent customer service and supporting effective commercial decision‑making.
• Engage the marketplace to shape requirements, understand supply options and encourage a competitive, innovative supplier base.
• Support effective contract and supplier relationship management, working with contract managers to monitor performance and ensure value for money.
• Ensure procurement activity complies with public sector regulations, internal policies and best practice, maintaining accurate and organised records throughout.

Role types and Salary details

There are a number of roles available at different grades and employment types:

2 x SEO – £46,689

2 x HEO – £37,579

These roles attract additional allowances, £1,210 for part qualified (MCIPS level 4)

£3,630 for fully qualified (MCIPS level 6)

Salary

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. Internal rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest

Working Hours

Standard working week is 37 hours, Part time at 30 hours or above, available as term time hours only, annualised hours, job share, compressed hours, flexible working hours policy available

Office Attendance

This role is contractually based in Bristol, 10 minute walk from Temple Meads train station. We recognise and value the mutual benefits of hybrid working and have a flexible approach to in person attendance, which can vary dependent on the requirements of individual business units – the details of which can be discussed with candidates if invited to attend an interview.

Person specification

We will assess your application against the Essential Criteria and Success Profile elements listed:

Essential Criteria

• Strong commercial appraisal skills, with detailed knowledge of EU/UK procurement regulations.
• Experience of working within a procurement team with responsibility for procurement and delivery of supplier relationship management for business critical contracts. (lead criteria)
• Working towards Level 4 in Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply with a commitment to become a full member through supported training and learning within agreed timescales upon appointment.
• Excellent communication skills, adapting your style to influence colleagues, suppliers and stakeholders.
• Making effective decisions from analysing financial and non-financial information and identifying key risk and options and then making recommendations to senior colleagues.
• Ability to think strategically and understand and anticipate the impact of commercial considerations on the Inspectorate’s finances, resources and risks.

For guidance on how to structure your application please visit: About the application process , Civil Service Careers

Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Working Together

Technical skills

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Experience of working within a regulated procurement team with responsibility for procurement and delivery of supplier relationship management for business critical and complex contracts. (Lead sift)
• Excellent communication skills, adapting your style to influence colleagues, suppliers and stakeholders.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,579, Planning Inspectorate contributes £10,886 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Flexible working options, including flexi-time, part-time, compressed hours and home working if suitable for the role.
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
• 25 days annual leave increasing by 1 day per year up to 30 days after 5 years, plus 1 privilege day to mark the King’s birthday. In addition to the normal bank holidays.
• Generous family friendly policies.
• Fast and modern IT kit which utilises Windows 11 and Microsoft 365, enabling seamless working from home and collaboration across teams.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Application

Complete the online application form on Civil Service Jobs which requires the following information:

• A CV: The CV section lets you share your job history. List your jobs, how long you worked at each, and briefly describe your roles and duties. Make sure to show how your experience matches the essential criteria of the job you’re applying for. Type or paste this information into the ‘Employment History’ box in the online application. You can’t attach your CV.
• Behaviour/Technical examples: Provide evidence against each of the behaviours/technical criteria set out in the person specification. There is a word limit of 250 word for each behaviour/technical criteria.
• Experience of working within a procurement team with responsibility for procurement and delivery of supplier relationship management for business critical contracts.
• Excellent communication skills, adapting your style to influence colleagues, suppliers and stakeholders.
• Working together (behaviour)

If there are many applications, we might use a lead sift. This means we’ll first check if you meet the key requirement listed below. If you don’t, we won’t review the rest of your application.

• Experience of working within a procurement team with responsibility for procurement and delivery of supplier relationship management for business critical contracts.

All shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome shortly afterwards.

Interview

If You Are Shortlisted, You Will

• Be asked to attend an interview to have a more in-depth discussion about your experience and suitability for the role
• Interviews will be a blend of behaviour, strengths, Experience questions and an activity to assess ability.

Candidates who pass the shortlist stage will receive full assessment details with their interview invitations.

Other Information

Shortlist Date: w/c 20th April 2026

Interview Date: w/c 4th May 2026

Interviews will be held at The Planning Inspectorate, Bristol, further details will be sent with the invite to interview.

The Planning Inspectorate does not fund travel and subsistence for candidates to attend interviews.

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Future Matches

Candidates who demonstrate strong potential and future readiness but score just below the required level at interview may be considered for alternative positions. These roles may be at a lower grade but align with their skills and offer opportunities for growth.

Merit list order

We appoint in merit list order, starting with any permanent appointments followed by any fixed term appointments.

We encourage all candidates to make themselves familiar with the role and what we will be assessing you against which is detailed in the Person Specification.

ID and Documents

If the job needs specific qualifications or memberships and you get the job, you’ll need to send scanned or photographed images of them before you start.

We must check that any successful candidates are allowed to work for the Civil Service before we employ them. If successful, you will be asked to do a right to work check using identity document validation technology (IDVT) through the services of an Identity Service Provider (IDSP), Civil Service Jobs.  If we are unable to confirm your right to work and through the IDVT we will need to do a manual right to work check using original documents with you in person.

Visa Sponsorship

The Planning Inspectorate cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates, we do not hold a Visa sponsorship licence.

Disability Confident Interview scheme/Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service values diversity and offers equal opportunities. We have a Disability Confident Interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the job’s minimum criteria. We will also provide reasonable adjustments to all where possible. For more information please see Reasonable Adjustments , Civil Service Careers

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact

• Name : Gemma Warren
• Email : PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact in the first instance: The Vacancy Manager via the Recruitment Team (PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk).

If you are not satisfied with the response, you receive you should then contact, Chief People Officer, via the Recruitment Team (PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk).

If you are still not satisfied with the response you receive from the Planning Inspectorate, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commission. https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-complaints/